Connector for electrical conductors.



J cgvoeflL. GONNEGTOR FOR ELECTRICAL GONDUGTORS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 28. 1909.

Patented Apr. 5, 1910.

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; Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr, 5, ,ieie.

Application filed April 28, 1909. Serial No. 492,742.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J our: C. VoonL, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphimfitatte of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Connector for Electrical Conductors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to .wire connectors and more particnlarlyto that-class of e connector for uniting electrically and mechanically wires or rods,'whereby a continuous circuit isprovidedif It consists of a clumping means whereby wires of diii'erent or diameters may be held" securely therein equally as Well as wires OlillkC'Silll'lt': size, one in which the clanip may be opened quickly and readily without injury to the connector; one which may be uscd't'o join the ends of two wires or rods to form a continuous wire and one which will at all times fornx a secure and solid binding means between two wires so that any'vibrations will have noeii'ectupon the clamp to loosen any of its adjacent parts.

It further consists of a novel means for locking the connector after it has been atta'ched to adjacent wires-and whereby it is impossible tor the parts to become separated or otherwise loosened therein.

In the wire connectorsheretofore in use I have found that owing to the construction of the same when rigid plates are employed for grip ing-the wire, it is extremely diflicult to'o tain the proper tension on the wires in order to look the same in position, owing to the fact that inany different sized wires are employed and the plates do not accommodate themselves to the wires.- My invention is designed to overcome these defects and in the'drawing's I have shown a con Stl'llCllOllWlllCll I have found operates successfully in practice, but it will be evident that the arrangement of the parts may be varied, changes may be made in the construction, and that other instrtnnentalities may be employed which will come within the s irit of iny invention and I do not there ore desire to be limited in every instance to thebxafct construction as herein shown and described." 1 preferably "form my plojtcs'o't suitable'spring material, whereby the gripping jaws thereon will accommoilate themselves to the ilil'loreut sized wires until will always tigl'illy grip the same.

While I have shown in the drawings Him-c jaws on one plate and two on another, it will be understood thatI do not desire to be lin1- ited'to this number as any suitable number may be employed.

It further consists of other novel features of construction, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth. i

Figure 1 represents a perspective of my connector or clamp in operative position Fig. 2 represents a similar more of the opposite side or the same. Fig. 3 represents a section of the device in gripping position. Fig. 4t represents section of the same showing a modification thereof. Fig. 5 repr esents a section of the device in open posi tion. Fig. 6 represents a section oi another modification. Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 represent details of perm or the devi Q.

Similar numerals of reference indicate cor-responding parts in the figures Referring to the drawings :-l designates a plate or body forming one portion of a, connector embodying my invention, the some having extensions 2 formed thereon, preferably spaced apart, for apurpose to be later described, the said extensions terminating in jaws 3, which in the presentinstance are extended in a plane at angles to the body which the wire to be engaged may readiiy it and be held securely against movement;

5 designates an opening formed in the plate, with which cooperates a screw-thread ed stud 6, the same preferably being inevably secured ,by means of 1 head 7 rotetebly fastenedto the plate 1..

8 designates a second plate or body Itovided with off sets 9 spaced apart on so located relative to the extensions 2 of the plate 1 that when the two plates are joined together they will coincide with the spaces between the jaws 3, thereby interfitting and forming a gripping means for n wire or rod, as. the case may be. It will be noted that similar jaws 10 are formed on the oil sets 9, preferably being bent relative to the plate 8 so as to provide a seat 11 for the wire or rod.

tivcly thin i'iuitcrial, it is preferable to provide, a bushing 12 in order that su-liicicnt bearing surface may he formed for the stud (3 ilui'iu the clamping action.

it will of course be understood that an 3 the head opening 13 is provided in the plate 8 and in order that the same may properly engage the bushing 12 and hold it against rotation, a Hat side 14 is formed thereon, cooperating with a similar flat portion 14* of the said bushing 12.

It will be clear that in operating position the arrangement of the several parts is such that the respective jaws 3 and 10 are oppositely disposed and move to gri or rods during the movement 0 the stud 6 when forcing the two plates apart, while if it is desired to release the connection, the stud 6 is rotated in an opposite direction to bring the plate together and thereby release the said jaws.

15 designates a suitable member provided with an opening 16 for engagement with 7 ol the stud 6 and upon which it is mounted for rotation. therewith in any well known manner, the same member preferably having a series of apertures 17 therein, in the present instance concentrically arranged with respect-to the stud 6, any one of which in certain positions of the stud may be alined with one or the other of a pair of openings 18 formed in the plate 1. The function of the openings just described is to form a lock for the connecting device when in operative position and to prevent any loosening of the parts during vibration or other causes.

The operation of the locking means consists of bending an end of one of the connecting wires over and inserting the same in one of the apertures 17 and passin it through the alined opening 18 of the p ate 1. This is well. illustrated inFig. 1 and it will be very apparent that when the wire is so located, movement of the stud and consequent unlocking of the device is absolutely prevented. Attention is directed furthermore to the manner in which the openings 17 are formed in the member 15, since they are preferably so arranged that when one ol them coincides with an opening 18, the opposite opening I8 is positioned between two of the openings 1'? and therefore it takes a very slight movement to bring the device to a locking position.

In Figs. 4t and 5 I show a modification wherein the stud (5 is provided with a slotted head in place of the wing construction employed in the previous views.

In Fig. 0 I disclose a construction wherein l9 designates one side of a body or plate and 19* the other body or plate, which in this figure are integral, and form a. loop, each body having jaws 20 and 21 interfitting in the manner as already described for the previous forms.

It will be readily apparent and appreeiateti by those skilled in the art to which t? 's invention applies, that I have devised sunple, economical and efiicient conthe wires struction for the purpose intended, one in which the flexibility of the parts is such as to prevent vibration of the wires or rods from effecting the solidity of the connector when in position and furthermore in view of my novel locking means, a connector which has once been placed in operative position cannot be loosened or its effectiveness weakened in any manner.

Especial attention is directed to the feawhile I have in the present instance shown and described the preferred embodiment thereof which has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character described, a plurality of plates, means to vary the distance between said plates, and jaws on each plate so arran ed as to cooperate with the wire when sai means are adapted to oper .ate to space said plates apart.

2. In a device of the character described, a plurality of plates, connecting means adapted to vary the distance between said plates, and jaws on. each plate spaced and adapted to interfit to grip a wire.

I 3. In a device of the character described, a

plurality'of plates, off set jaws on each plate, said jaws being adapted to be drawn together when the plates are separated, and to'open when said plates, are drawn together and means adapted to operate said plates.

4. In a device of the character described, a plurality -of plates, off set jaws on each plate, said jaws being adapted to be drawn together when the plates are separated and to open when said plates are drawn together, and screw bolt means to operate said plates.

5. In a device of the character described, a plurality of plates, off set jaws on each plate, said jaws being adapted to be drawn together when the plates are separated and to open when said plates are drawn together, and means to lock said jaws in clamping position.

6. In a wire connector, a plurality of plates, the opposite ends of said plates hav- 'ing' integral members -interfitting with each other, aboltadapted to space said plates tion. I

7. In a wire connector, a plurality: of plates, screw bolt, means adapted to vary the istancebetweensaid plates, and inter-fitting members on, said plates to grip a wire or rod when said means space said plates apart.

; 8. In a Wire connector comprising plates,

.ofi s et jaws on each plate, a bolt adapted to space said plates apart, and a lock on said bolt to hold the same in position.

9. In a wire connector,'a plate havingintegral members, means to actuate said mem-. bers in either direction, and-a lock to hold said means in position.

10. In a wire conn'eotor,' a plurality of plates having interfitting portions on the opposite ends thereof, and ,means space said plates apart to-grip a wire.

11. In 'a wire connector, .a plurality of plates, means to actuate said'plates', and interfitting members on said plates for gripping a wire therebetween', when said means are operated.

a'part,and means to lock said boltin posi-.

apart.

thecha'racter described, aplurality of plates interfitting wire grip- ,pi-ngmembersoii the opposite sides of said plates and means to actuate said platesfo'r gripping a wire between said members.

'14; In a' wire connector, a plurality of plates havinginterfitting jaws on their 0pposite ends adapted to grip a wire between said opposite spaced apart.

15. In' a wire connector having a plurality of plates, interfitting wire gripping members on. the opposite. ends of. said plates, and means to actuate saidplates for gripping a wire when said plates are spaced apart; t

16. In a wire connector, aplurality of plates, each. of their opposite sides haying interfitting extended members adapted to grip a wire, and means to actuate said plates for gripping a wire between the opposite members.

' 17. In a device of the character described, a plurality of plates, screw means adapted to aws when said plates are vary the distance betweensaid plates and jaws on each plate so arranged as-tocooperatefvnth a wire when said means are adapted to operate-[to space said' -plates 18. In a wire conneotor,-plates-having on aplurality of their sides interfitting members adapted to grip a wire and means to actuate said plates in either direction.

JOHN o. VOGEL.

Witnessest' H v WM. CANnR Wmonnsnnu, C. D-. MQVAY. 

